Justin Harrell

[Patler]

A few things I have come across in the last week:

- He is in Green Bay working out to rehab his back.
- Another surgery has not been ruled out, but the doctors want to try rehab first.
- An unnamed scout said his notes from watching him at TN were that he was "born to play DE in a 3-4".
- Trgovac said he is a "very talented player" if they can get him healthy.
- One of the 3-4 gurus (I've forgotten which one) said Harrell was exactly the type of player you look for in a 3-4 DE.

IF , and it is a huge "IF" they can get both of them healthy, Harrell and Jenkins could be nice fits in the 3-4. Unfortunately, I have a feeling, based on nothing concrete at all, that this back thing will be the end of Harrell's NFL career. I think they are doing everything they can to avoid a third back surgery, which they probably believe will be the end for him. Rehab this off season might be his last shot. Too bad.

[Joemailman]

Yep. I think he'll either be starting at DE, or he'll be joining Jamaal Reynolds in the Packers Draft Pick Hall Of Shame.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

That is why injured players fall in the draft.

[Patler]

Yep. I think he'll either be starting at DE, or he'll be joining Jamaal Reynolds in the Packers Draft Pick Hall Of Shame.

There is no shame in it for Harrell or Reynolds. It does not appear to have been a character flaw, lack of effort, or anything like that for either one. It is not the player's fault where he is drafted, or that he gets injured.

[KYPack]

Re: Justin Harrell

A few things I have come across in the last week:

- He is in Green Bay working out to rehab his back.
- Another surgery has not been ruled out, but the doctors want to try rehab first.
- An unnamed scout said his notes from watching him at TN were that he was "born to play DE in a 3-4".
- Trgovac said he is a "very talented player" if they can get him healthy.
- One of the 3-4 gurus (I've forgotten which one) said Harrell was exactly the type of player you look for in a 3-4 DE.

IF , and it is a huge "IF" they can get both of them healthy, Harrell and Jenkins could be nice fits in the 3-4. Unfortunately, I have a feeling, based on nothing concrete at all, that this back thing will be the end of Harrell's NFL career. I think they are doing everything they can to avoid a third back surgery, which they probably believe will be the end for him. Rehab this off season might be his last shot. Too bad.

As a long-time back sufferer, I think he's done playing NFL football, too.

Those things ebb and flow, but the movement is always downhill.

A third surgery is curtains. Right now, he's postponing the inevitable.

His first year, I saw him have a brilliant series in Pre-season. He pushed his guy back, controlling him. When the QB went to pass, Harrell threw his guy aside and leaped, tipping the pass. He then caught the ball and scored. It was garbage time their 3's against ours, but you could see the talent and skill. I figured once he got his legs under him and in shape, we had a real star.

It didn't happen then, & don't think it ever will.

[vince]

Re: Justin Harrell

A few things I have come across in the last week:

- He is in Green Bay working out to rehab his back.
- Another surgery has not been ruled out, but the doctors want to try rehab first.
- An unnamed scout said his notes from watching him at TN were that he was "born to play DE in a 3-4".
- Trgovac said he is a "very talented player" if they can get him healthy.
- One of the 3-4 gurus (I've forgotten which one) said Harrell was exactly the type of player you look for in a 3-4 DE.

IF , and it is a huge "IF" they can get both of them healthy, Harrell and Jenkins could be nice fits in the 3-4. Unfortunately, I have a feeling, based on nothing concrete at all, that this back thing will be the end of Harrell's NFL career. I think they are doing everything they can to avoid a third back surgery, which they probably believe will be the end for him. Rehab this off season might be his last shot. Too bad.

I hope he can drop some weight and make it back. Where'd you come across this info Patler?

[Patler]

Re: Justin Harrell

I hope he can drop some weight and make it back. Where'd you come across this info Patler?

I don't think weight is a problem for him. They mentioned toward the end of last season that his weight was down about 10 pounds from what they had hoped he could stay at while rehabbing. The trainers commented about how hard and long he worked to do it, and he lost weight in spite of having been very limited in what he could do while rehabbing his back. My recollection is that he had gotten back down to about what he played at in college

Where did I get the information? Bits and pieces found in blogs and a few articles about the defense the past week or so, mostly GBPG and JSO.

[Bossman641]

As always, good research Patler. I'm really pulling for Harrell. I know the odds are stacked against him, but I hope he can somehow get healthy. I think a line of Jenkins-Pickett (or Raji)-Harrell could eat up a ton of blockers.

[vince]

Re: Justin Harrell

I hope he can drop some weight and make it back. Where'd you come across this info Patler?

I don't think weight is a problem for him. They mentioned toward the end of last season that his weight was down about 10 pounds from what they had hoped he could stay at while rehabbing. The trainers commented about how hard and long he worked to do it, and he lost weight in spite of having been very limited in what he could do while rehabbing his back. My recollection is that he had gotten back down to about what he played at in college

Where did I get the information? Bits and pieces found in blogs and a few articles about the defense the past week or so, mostly GBPG and JSO.

It's good to hear that he's lost weight even while limited in what he can do. I think it might have been you Patler who has pointed out consistently to the bashers who call him lazy that he's always been a hard worker...

I have to believe playing DE at 300 vs. trying to bulk up and stay at 320 as a 4-3 DT would be better for him with his condition.

I hadn't seen any of the reports about how he (if healthy) is perfectly suited for a 3-4 DE. Thanks for those tidbits.

That's a big hole he could fill if he's able to make it back, and a big hole that needs to be filled if he can't.

[red]

i think it would be a giant mistake to try and count on him for anything

if he can somehow contribute in anyway, it would be a bonus right now

[sheepshead]

Yep. I think he'll either be starting at DE, or he'll be joining Jamaal Reynolds in the Packers Draft Pick Hall Of Shame.

There is no shame in it for Harrell or Reynolds. It does not appear to have been a character flaw, lack of effort, or anything like that for either one. It is not the player's fault where he is drafted, or that he gets injured.

I agree, while we are disappointed in a first rounder not playing and collecting a huge pay check and taking cap space. You really cant get mad at him. It's like getting mad at your kid for getting sick.

[Joemailman]

I wasn't knocking Harrell. I was referring to high draft selections that produced little or nothing. I'd put the Mandarich or John Michaels picks in the same category. I'm rooting for Harrell. I think his size and talent are perfect for what the Packers need at DE.

[Harlan Huckleby]

That is why injured players fall in the draft.

I bicep tear is a long way from a back problem.

[Patler]

I wasn't knocking Harrell. I was referring to high draft selections that produced little or nothing. I'd put the Mandarich or John Michaels picks in the same category. I'm rooting for Harrell. I think his size and talent are perfect for what the Packers need at DE.

I guess I read your comment a little wrong. Michels I don't blame for anything either. Simply didn't have the talent they hoped he had, then had some injuries on top of it all.

Mandarich on the other hand, I do blame. Not just that he took steroids in college, lied and cheated on the tests, but by his own admission he became a drug addict while with the Packers, and seemingly didn't really care. Had he simply dropped the steroid use, stayed clean and worked hard, he may have had a decent career. He had a few serviceable years with the Colts after going through all that he did, showing that he had some talent at least. If he had put in that kind of effort with the Packers years earlier, he might have had a decent career. Instead, he mostly threw it all away.

[Harlan Huckleby]

If JH can be a backup at DE, that'll be fine.